Soldering iron



C. C. ABBOTT SOLDERING IRON Dec. 10, 1940.

Original Filed July 30, 1936 Ill Inventor. Charles C. Abbott,

His Attorhe g.

Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES SOLDERING IRON Charles 0. Abbott, Pittsfield, Mass., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Original application July' 30, .1936, Serial No. 93,411. Divided and this application March 22,.

1938, Serial N0. 197,353

5 Claims.' (01. 113-105) This invention relates to handle structures, more particularly to handle structures for electrically heated tools, such as soldering irons and the like, and it has for its object the provision 5 of an improved device of this character.

This invention contemplates the provision of an improved handle structure involving means for adjusting the handle with reference to the working part of the tool, such as the tip of a soldering iron; and further,-contemplates improvements in the handle structure for thermally insulating the handle from the working part of thetool.

This application is a division of my copending 15 application, Serial No. 93,411, filed July 30, 1936,

and assigned to the same assignee as this invention.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of a soldering iron provided with a handle structure arranged in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation mainly in section illustrating the handle structure used in the soldering iron of Fig. .1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of a handle structure involving improved means for thermally insulating the handle arranged in accordance with this invention; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a handle structure of modified form arranged in accordance with this invention, parts being shown in section so as to illustrate certain details of construction; and Fig. 5 is a sectional 35 view taken through the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing, this invention has V withdrawal by means of a pair of curved clampbeen shown in one form as applied to a soldering iron having a working tip I0, which is heated 4 by an electrical heating unit H; a metallic support 12 for the heating element and tip; and a handle structure l3 secured to the metallic support, whereby the iron may be manipulated.

The tip l and heating unit II are arranged in the manner described and claimed in my above-mentioned copending application.

The heating unit II is threaded on the support l2 which is threaded from end to end, as shown. Preferably, the threads on the support l2 will be formed by rolling or spinning them from the stock of the walls of the tube itself, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This provides a relatively large thread as shcwn,'and increases the length of the heat path from the heating element to the handle structure I3.

. insulating yielding material, such as rubber.

the lead, as shown. These members 25 are pro- The metallic support at its end opposite the tip is received in the handle, or hand-grasping member M of the handle structure. The handle [4 is provided with a centrally arranged bore 15 having its tip end portion [8 threaded to receive the handle end of the metallic support l2.

Extending longitudinally through the metallic member l2, substantially from end to end there- 'of, is an insulating member I! provided with a pair of spaced-apart passageways l8 through which a pair of leads I9 connected to the terminals of the heating element are directed. The

member I1 is formed of any suitable material, such as porcelain. The leads I9, as-shown, project from the end of the insulator ll into the tube l2.

Entering the bore l5 of the handle is a suitable electrical supply lead comprising a pair of supply conductors 2! which are insulated and which are covered by a common insulating coating, as shown, formed of any suitable electrically The ends of the conductors 2! are bared, as shown, and are arranged in overlapping relation with the associated ends of the leads. The overlapped ends of the leads and conductors are secured together by means of conducting wires l2 tightly wound about the ends, as shown in Fig. 2, and

I soldered after being wound. An insulating sleeve 23 is inserted in the tubular member I2 about the portions of leads and conductors connected together, and these portions are separated by an insulating wall 24.. These members 23 and 24 preferably will be formed of a suitable insulating fiber.

The lead 20 is secured in the handle I4 against ing members 25 positioned within the support l2 on opposite sides of the insulating coating of, 4o

vided with oppositely inclined surfaces 26 and l 21, preferably arranged at the tip end of the clamps. These inclined surfaces are arranged between a pair of clamping nuts 28 and 29 positioned on opposite sides of the surfaces and having threading engagement with the tubular support l2. The nuts as shown have wedging or inclined faces engaging the inclined faces 26 and 21 of the clamps, and the nuts are turned inwardly toward each other sufficiently to force the clamping members 25 tightly against the insulated covering of the lead. Preferably, the innet nut 28 will be fitted tightly against the in,- su ating sleeve 23 to hold it in place, and will be metallic ferrule which is spaced from the metal support l2 to reduce the transfer of heat the support to the handle. I

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the supporting member 3| is of straight tubular from form and is not threaded as is the corresponding support of the first form. The tube 3| as shown, is connected to the handle 32 by a connection means preventing direct conduction of heat from the support 3| to the handle. As shown, a handle ferrule 33 is provided between the tube 3| and the handle 32. This ferrule, as shown, has a portion 34 surrounding the tube 3| in spaced relation with it and within this space there are provided a plurality of pins 35 spaced circumferentially of the tube, as shown in Fig. 5. These pins have diameters such that they space the ferrule in substantially concentric relation with the tube 3|, and so as to have line contact with the tube and ferrule. The pins 35 are rigidly secured to the tube and ferrule at the lines of contact with them in any suitable manner, as by copper brazing.

The ferrule 33 is provided with a threaded section 36 which is positioned opposite a threaded section 31 provided on the handle. Lying within the threads on the handle and ferrule is a coiled member 38 formed of circular stock. This member, it will beobserved, contacts the ferrule and handle with line contacts onily.

It will be observed in view of the foregoing arrangement that the ferrule 33 is spaced a material 1 distance from the metallic support 3| by the pins ner to the tubular support 40 as is the ferrule'33 secured to the tube 3| of Fig. 3. In this case, however, the ferrule has a direct threaded connection 4| with the handle 42.- In other words, the-member 38 has been eliminated in this form. This form is particularly applicable to low voltage irons, such as those having a heating unit of 75 Watts.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a tool and the like having a heated element, a handle structure comprising a handle, a ferrule connected with said heated element surrounding a portion of said handle in spaced relation with it, threads both in said ferrule and said handle portion, and a coiled member of substantiallycircular cross-section inserted within the space between said ferrule and'handle portion and received in the threads in said members so as to hold them in spaced relation and to reduce the transfer of heat from said ferrule to said handle 2. In a'tool and the like having a working portion adapted to be heated, 'a first metallic member supporting said working portion, a handle for said metallic member, a second metallic member secured to said handle and having a portion surrounding said first metallic member in spaced relation with it, and metallic means inserted in the space between said first and second metallic members rigidly securing them together at spaced intervals so as to thermally insulate said handle from said first metallic member.

3. In a soldering iron and the like comprising a working tip, a metallic member supporting said tip, a handle, a ferrule secured to said handle" having a portion surrounding said metallic member in spaced relation with it, a plurality of pins arranged at intervals in the space between said portion and said ferrule, and means securing said pins to said portion of said ferrule and said io metallic member. 7

4. In a soldering iron and the like comprising a working tip, a metallic member supporting said tip, a handle, a ferrule secured to said handle having a portion surrounding said metallic member in spaced relation with it,,a plurality of pins arranged lengthwise in the space between said portion and said metallic member spaced at intervals and having line contact with said members, andsaid pins brazed to said portion and to 30 said metallic members.

5. In a soldering iron and the like comprising a working tip, a metallic member supporting said tip, a handle, a plurality of pins longitudinally...

positioned on said metallic member at spaced in tervals around the member, means rigidly securing said pins to said member, and means securing CHARLES C. ABBOTT. 

